2013 Predictions.

[LaFlorecita]

It's faded in the last few years but I wouldn't say it has gone away completely. Thor had a great later season but he sucked at his biggest goal, Roubaix. And Cav had a good season winning a good number of races but his biggest goals, Olympics, MSR, and green jersey, he failed to win.

So, Phil will be the one to finally rid the peloton of it .

No no he won't, he can't I didn't pick him for my cq team

 

[Afrank]

Hushovd's 2011 Roubaix was probably his best ever. Matched every one of Cancellara's attacks except for the final surprise attack. But at that point he already knew Vansummeren, his teammate, had won the race. He didn't crash once or have a flat tire in that race if I remember correctly.

And Cavendish has failed at Milan-San Remo for 3 straight years now. Hardly a curse of the rainbow.

I wouldn’t say it was his best; all he really did was suck wheel on Cancellara and refuse to take a turn on the front. Sure he had a teammate up the road so there was no reason for him to contribute to the chase, but by not contributing he effectively eliminated his chances of winning the only race he cares about. His tactics were good, and he didn't have any problems, but IMHO he raced a cowardly race in 2011. As for Cav, MSR was still one of his goals. And we can still contribute not winning the Olympics and not getting green to the curse (I would add losing the points jersey to Purito at the Giro as well).
So like I said, we can still see signs of the curse, but not as much as we have seen in the past.

No no he won't, he can't I didn't pick him for my cq team

I'm counting on Phil to win the game for me .

 

[El Pistolero]

He lost the green jersey because he didn't have a team built around him and he lost the Olympics because he overestimated the strength of his own team. 4 men can't control an entire event without the help of others. That's just logic and has nothing to do with a curse lol.

What I call the rainbow curse is cyclists cracking under the pressure of the increased (media) attention. Or being marked more in the peloton. Or just a combination of all these factors.

 

[Afrank]

He lost the green jersey because he didn't have a team built around him and he lost the Olympics because he overestimated the strength of his own team. 4 men can't control an entire event without the help of others. That's just logic and has nothing to do with a curse lol.

What I call the rainbow curse is cyclists cracking under the pressure of the increased (media) attention. Or being marked more in the peloton. Or just a combination of all these factors.

Of course their are more defined reasons for why a race doesn't go according to plan (like the strength of the team or where the teams priorities lie), but whose to say a curse can't play a part in the team not being strong enough to deliver their guy to the win. I'm sure a more defined reason can be found for why Ballan didn't perform when he was WC. I think a curse can easily be seen as playing a role in why Cav did not win his biggest targets this season.

But then again, look what we are discussing here, a superstition .

 

[The Hitch]

He lost the green jersey because he didn't have a team built around him and he lost the Olympics because he overestimated the strength of his own team. 4 men can't control an entire event without the help of others. That's just logic and has nothing to do with a curse lol.

What I call the rainbow curse is cyclists cracking under the pressure of the increased (media) attention. Or being marked more in the peloton. Or just a combination of all these factors.

He lost the giro points jersey by a point having suffered 2 setbacks in crashes (neither his fault). Sounds to me.like a curse

 

[greenedge]

What I call the rainbow curse is cyclists cracking under the pressure of the increased (media) attention. Or being marked more in the peloton. Or just a combination of all these factors.

Cadel crashing in the 2010 TDF is an example, not just the media pressure.

 

[Wigwan]

What I call the rainbow curse is cyclists cracking under the pressure of the increased (media) attention. Or being marked more in the peloton. Or just a combination of all these factors.

It's not just the pressure of media attention. I read an article on Gilbert a few weeks ago and he said that it was a lot more difficult for him to train since everybody recognizes him with the rainbow jersey and he gives interview almost every day.

Also, since the World champion is under such scrutiny, every bad moment for him will be exaggerated and linked to the curse, but every good moment will just seem normal.

 

[Fidolix]

Giro: Wiggins, Hesjedal, Nibali
Tour: Schleck, Froome, Zubeldia
Vuelta: Cobo, Rodriguez, Valverde

Cobo...looool
the doping era is hopefully over...

 

[Netserk]

I wouldn’t say it was his best; all he really did was suck wheel on Cancellara and refuse to take a turn on the front. Sure he had a teammate up the road so there was no reason for him to contribute to the chase, but by not contributing he effectively eliminated his chances of winning the only race he cares about. His tactics were good, and he didn't have any problems, but IMHO he raced a cowardly race in 2011. As for Cav, MSR was still one of his goals. And we can still contribute not winning the Olympics and not getting green to the curse (I would add losing the points jersey to Purito at the Giro as well).
So like I said, we can still see signs of the curse, but not as much as we have seen in the past.



I'm counting on Phil to win the game for me .

Welcome to Hushovd....

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Cobo...looool
the doping era is hopefully over...

it's rather stupid to say cobo and doping in one sentence. it's best not to speak about that ever again, unless in the clinic cobo has never even been suspected of doping and after 2008 tour, where ricco and piepoli were caught he even fell into a depresseion because of that. the man is mentally unstable but phsyically triple a talent